Pedophile mountaineering coach who sexually assaulted six girls for 14 years will hear his fate in court
- Former sports coach convicted of sexually abusing girls
- Stephen Mitchell, 57, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison
- He abused his victims between 1994 and 2008
A former national mountaineering coach has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for sexually assaulting six girls.
Stephen Mitchell, 57, was convicted of seven sex offenses against six teenage girls between 1994 and 2008.
The charges include persistent sexual abuse of a child, maintaining a sexual relationship with a child, committing an act of indecency with a child and a charge of providing misleading information to a Commonwealth entity.
Pedophile sports coach Stephen Mitchell (pictured right), 57, has been sentenced to more than 13 years behind bars
He faced the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, where he was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison with a non-parole period of nine years.
In handing down his sentence, Judge David Mossop said Mitchell’s abuse led to “long-lasting and fundamental consequences for the victims.”
“Those consequences, in turn, affect their parents, partners and children,” he said.
Mitchell was a coach with the Australian Sports Commission and the Canberra Police and Citizens Youth Club.
He met five of his victims through rock climbing or the police youth club. A girl was met through a social activity.
The girls were between the ages of 11 and 16 at the time of the pedophile’s crime.
The court heard that Mitchell had a pedophilia disorder.
His victims previously spoke in court about how his sexual abuse destroyed their lives.
The women suffered from crippling mental health issues, low self-esteem, anxiety and nightmares. Some even attempted suicide as teenagers.
Mitchell sexually assaulted six girls between the ages of 11 and 16 from 1994 to 2008. He met his victims mainly through his work as a coach
“My childhood memories are scarred, distorted nightmares – I still struggle to think of those years,” said one.
“You took all my childhood,” said another. “My mental health is under siege 24 hours a day.”
One victim revealed that she had moved about 20 times since the abuse because she was afraid Mitchell would find her.
Police believe there may be more victims who have yet to report.
Mitchell will be eligible for parole in 2032.